Diamond Tables vs. Brunswick Tables

[DaveK]

National tables compare to Diamonds ?

I know you were comparing Diamonds and Brunswicks ...

OK, but ... "Hi Jack" .... has anyone here played on a National table ? This might be a Canadian thing, but the Nationals I've played on are tight as all getout. 2 balls will not go into a corner together. You have to hit the corners well, or with proper pocket-weight, or they rattle the ball right back out. Having never played on a Diamond, the impression I get from comments around here is that they play not unlike these National beasts. Anyone have experience with both ?

Dave, who often hates those f*#@&ng Nationals !

 

[JimS]

I've had my Diamond Pro for about 3 years and love the way it plays.

The cushions went hard and I was told by Diamond that this was typical for the cushions they used to use. They have changed their stock cushion and they replaced mine free but charged for the travel and labor. I know of one other Diamond owner that has had the same problem and is in the process of negotiating with Diamond to get her cushions replaced.

I too don't like the extra bouncy cushions on the GC IV's. It's unnatural. The balls come off seemingly with more energy than they had when they went into the rail!

All in all I'm VERY happy with my Diamond and especially so with the cut of the pockets and the deep shelf. I HAVE to hit the shot CORRECTLY or I miss it and that's what I need at home. I read that Buddy Hall was asked what he thought about real tight pockets and he said it didn't matter to him because no matter how narrow the pocket was made that didn't move the center of the pocket one bit. My Diamond is teaching me to hit the middle of the pocket.

 

[vapoolplayer]

You have to hit the corners well, or with proper pocket-weight, or they rattle the ball right back out. !

is this one of those tables where you can't hit the ball with any speed what-so-ever?

i don't mind the pockets being extra tight, but when you can hit the inside of the pocket and the ball doesn't go, thats not right.

i've seen tables where i can hit the pocket where the angle of the pocket meets the throat, (on some shots, this IS THE CENTER OF THE POCKET) and the ball does not go because i didn't slow roll it. IMO that hinders the game more than it helps it. there are MANY MANY shots which this doesn't let you take advantage of.

i don't mind the pockets being 4.5 or less, in fact i like that, but if i hit the pocket good and it rattles out, because of the pocket facing or the rubber bing to "boingy" that IMO is uncalled for.

VAP

 

[hustlefinger]

i don't mind the pockets being extra tight, but when you can hit the inside of the pocket and the ball doesn't go, thats not right.
VAP

I agree the pockets should be fair. This problem occurs often with shimmed pockets too, perhaps the angles aren’t cut right or something.

Rick

 

[rayjay]

I've had my GC IV with shimmed pockets for 6 months now and haven't had any problems at all. It was used in the 2004 WPBA U.S. Open, so I don't know if anything is different from the standard GCIV, other than the shims and the logos plastered on it.

2004 WPBA U.S. Open...that was in Albuquerque, right? Where do you play when you're not home on the GC IV? I'm usually at Doc's.

 

[DaveK]

is this one of those tables where you can't hit the ball with any speed what-so-ever?

No, you can blast them into the center without being rejected. And a softer shot that hits the side of the pocket will drop. Anything more than a 'full table length speed' that hits the side is gonna rattle out. They are tough ! I think these Nationals are a Canadian table, anyone ?

Dave

 

[fxskater]

OK, but ... "Hi Jack" .... has anyone here played on a National table ? This might be a Canadian thing, but the Nationals I've played on are tight as all getout. 2 balls will not go into a corner together. You have to hit the corners well, or with proper pocket-weight, or they rattle the ball right back out. Having never played on a Diamond, the impression I get from comments around here is that they play not unlike these National beasts. Anyone have experience with both ?

Dave, who often hates those f*#@&ng Nationals !

Yeah national tables suck ass badly. They play decent, but the pockets are screwed, the side pockets are even worse than the corner pockets.

 

[Sarge]

the ONLY problem i have with a diamond is that the slate is cut too deep in the pockets.

take a ball on a brunswick and put it as far in the pocket as you can without it falling. you still have room to hit the rail before the ball.

now, do the same thing with a diamond, you HAVE to hit the ball, you CANNOT hit the rail, you will miss the ball.

most of the time, this won't matter, but on alot of shots, this sucks.

again this is the ONLY problem i've seen, other than that, the diamonds are the best table out there.

VAP

Very good reply! I agree 100%

 

[stick8]

table

hello people; I do all my playing on the dinner table. taters in the side pocket, beans in the coner. and the cornbread on the rail at all times I have no problems at all with dimond of the gc. just a thought "STICK"

 

[misterpoole]

I play on Diamond Pro's and GC IV's every week, both set up by the same table mechanic. When the IV's came in one table had the fast rails. That didn't last long because nobody liked the speed off the rail. All tables play perfectly now. Some were set up with tight pockets by cutting the rails longer. The Diamonds are set up with regular sized pockets, and they are a nice cut in my opinion. Both tables play great. The mechanic prefers to work on the GC IV's. I don't have a strong preference for which one I prefer to play on, maybe slightly to the Diamonds.